Browse Category by Lifestyle
Blog, Lifestyle, Updates

Amazon Update!

Hello hello! I hope you are all staying safe and healthy during these crazy times. This post will be fairly brief as I wanted to share a quick update on my Amazon storefront. Amazon was the very FIRST platform I partnered with when I decided to monetize my blog – it is the main source of all my DIY supplies, so it was a no-brainer at the time. Now, Amazon offers its affiliates/influencers so much more, and I have been WAY behind on taking advantage of all the new (to me) features.

I now have a new storefront on Amazon that I’m super pumped about – this will be where I link a ton of DIY supplies, and random favorites I’ve been loving. Don’t get me wrong, y’all know I’m a huge Sephora/Nordstrom fiend – but Amazon will always have my heart. I have been a proud Prime member since 2012, and I LOVE seeing how it has grown over the years from both a consumer perspective and as a small business owner.

In my new storefront, linked HERE, I will be tagging alllllllll of my favorite Amazon purchases, and some of my super super wishlisted items. I plan on updating this page regularly, so if you’re on board with my decor and general lifestyle posts – you’re going to want to bookmark this, save it to your favorites, WHATEVAH your desired method may be.

As always, please feel free to comment below or email me directly if you have any questions about this post or any other! Full disclaimer and affiliate link policy available HERE.

xoxo, M
Post, Pin, Share:
Blog, Gift Guides, Lifestyle

Cyber Monday Sales

chic glam home office decor bright white and tufted linen desk chair

 

* Cyber Monday*

1. Kohls – specifically jewelry; use codes: GIVE20 & JEWELRY20 to get an extra 40% off already marked down pieces!

2. Francesca’s 35% off the entire site, no code needed

3. Pottery Barn 25% off and free shipping with code: CYBER

4. Nordstrom Spend $250, get $50 back; Check out the softest ever and just now marked down Barefoot Dreams Cardigan here. Nordstrom’s Cyber Monday offer will now be extended through Tuesday, ending at 9am EST on Wednesday 11/28

5. Amazon SO many deals in every category, updated hourly – personally, I’m hoping to snag an iRobot like this one

6. Target 15% off site-wide; MAJOR deals on Apple products

7. T.J. Maxx Free shipping, no minimum purchase & no code needed! (normally $89 minimum for free shipping)

8. Wal-Mart Free shipping with thousands of new markdowns added today up to 80% off

9. Wayfair Up to 80% off top pieces for Cyber Monday Blowout Sale

10. Etsy IDEAL for personalized gifts – discounts vary by seller!

11. Banana Republic  50% off EVERYTHING; no code needed

12. Gap  50% off EVERYTHING. Use code: CYBER & get an extra 10% off with code: YOURS

13. Madewell 25% off EVERYTHING. Use code: DEALWITHIT

14. Anthropologie 30% off EVERYTHING – no code needed

I will continue to update this list throughout today as I find more sales that are worthwhile! For previous gift guides, check out these posts: Girl Boss Gift Guide & The Ultimate Last Minute Gift Guide Happy shopping! 

xoxo, M

Post, Pin, Share:
Blog, Faith, Lifestyle, Marriage

3 Lessons in Celebration of 3 Years with J

malia Lynn 3 year anniversary

first look malia Lynn

first look before ceremony

first look malia Lynn

first look malia lynn

3 year anniversary malia Lynn

Coming up this month, on June 13, is our third wedding anniversary. Last year, I celebrated on the blog by sharing a very personal post (linked here) of our dating history, talking about why it’s worth it to wait. For this year’s anniversary, I wanted to get personal again by sharing 3 lessons of communication that have made our relationship stronger (what better time than when people expect you to be extra sappy, and actually tolerate it? It’s all about that strategy my friends. Ha!).

Granted, at 3 years, we are hardly experts – but honestly, I don’t think anyone ever is, regardless of the amount of time they’ve been together. Either way, the formula is the same: The daily (and sometimes hourly) choice to love the other person and to not only extend grace but to seek grace from them when you aren’t necessarily being your most lovable self. 

Throughout the last three years, J and I have been through much more than either of us expected on this bright and wonderful day. Most of these experiences have been more than great, like bringing home Toby, trips together, and seeing growth in the Lord within one another. Others have unfortunately been a bit more difficult – the strain caused by law school was a very heavy burden on our household in a number of ways; interference from toxic relationships (everyone has at least one of these people in life, right?! I will happily trade ours for your crazy uncle 😉 ); and a few deaths of loved ones have all weighed pretty heavily on our little family, sometimes all at once. I’m not sharing these parts of the less than joyful side of our marriage in the hopes of getting sympathy, as it isn’t needed. As hard as these moments – sometimes over the span of many months – have been, they’ve also solidified us as a couple much more than any “happy” season ever could.

I thought I trusted Justin with my life on the day we got married, but looking back, I know I was still holding onto the idea of controlling what my life would ideally be like with him in it. Whereas today, I wholeheartedly trust him with my entire person; past, present, future, ugly, pretty, smart, dumb, whole, and broken. He is such a gift that I still wonder why God chose me to be his wife. That doesn’t mean that we always communicate perfectly with one another or that we have a “perfect” marriage. We still and will have days when we both want to bite each other’s heads off. There’s just no such thing as a perfect marriage when there’s a pairing of two imperfect people. But y’all, grace abounds from this man. Throughout these last three years, he has and continues to teach me so much about forgiveness, kindness, and joy.  

As we celebrate three years married and embark on our fourth year, I am definitely going to be focusing on these 3 lessons of communication that we have learned and worked on together. I love these, because they can be used in literally any relationship, at any stage:

1. Be Intentional

Spending time together sometimes needs to planned, and when it is, be present. Put the phones away and focus on the other person. Being intentional also applies to the words you speak. You have the ability to choose what you say to someone, so choose wisely. The freedom to be vulnerable in relationships is so important, and it’s much more difficult to repair trust than it is to destroy it through thoughtless words or actions.

2. Be Honest

You know what happens when you bottle things up for too long? You explode. Not only that, but you aren’t giving the other person a chance to fix it or even know what is bothering you. (Tim Keller discusses this very concept much more eloquently in The Meaning of Marriage – which I highly recommend!) You may think you’re being the bigger person by not saying anything, but usually you’re just setting yourself up for an unnecessary meltdown. When you choose to share what’s going on, be intentional with what you say and how you say it. You’re on the same team. This also means being honest with your own heart and mind. Did you just catch yourself using a not-so-nice tone? Don’t wait for the other person to say something about it for you to own it and apologize. Be accountable and honest with you. 

3. Be Quiet

I know this is an ironic one to follow the “Be Honest” tip, but just roll with it. Sometimes when venting, the other person doesn’t want advice. It can be hard to resist the urge to jump in and start explaining all the ways they can fix the issue. But, as much as we want to help our spouses and loved ones, sometimes what they need more in that moment is just for someone to listen. If you really think you know the answer to what is causing their angst, then when they are finished, ask if they want you to speak into it. Most of the time, that answer will probably be yes, but if it isn’t, be willing and ready to respect their wishes.

 

Thank you for celebrating with us by taking the time to read this post. We love and appreciate all of you more than you know! If you are interested in reading more about what I’ve learned from Lesson #2, I’ve included the links to the original book as well as its study guide companion below:

 

 

xoxo, M

 

 

 

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Post, Pin, Share:
Blog, Lifestyle, Travel, Updates

Travel Outfit Essentials + Life Update!

travel outfit essentials

travel outfit essentials

longchamp travel bag

carry on travel bags

longchamp travel bag

travel bags

Pink Carry-on // Leggings // Black Tennis Shoes // LA Cap // Black Zip-up Bag (Expandable!) // Favorite Cardigan // Top

Oh my gosh, y’all, it’s been a minute.

Seriously a hot minute full of these past crazy two 1/2 months of bar prep isolation, but I am finally free (for now) and so hyped to get back into the real world & back in touch with all of you!

For this two-day exam extravaganza, I used my favorite go-to travel essentials = this expandable nylon bag and my pink rolling carry-on. The black longchamp is a bit of an investment, but I cannot recommend it more! I’ve had the same one now for over 5 years – it’s been with me to over 5 countries, and everywhere else in between, yet still looks brand new! If you’re looking for a new travel bag, I definitely recommend checking this one out – as it’s been a lifesaver for when I’ve needed more space to bring back souvenirs, and for when I just don’t repack everything as tightly/well I did before leaving on the trip :).

After finishing up the Bar Exam, I met my sweet friends, Emily & Joy, for dinner & spent the night in Chapel Hill 🙌🏻 (For those of you who are new to the blog, UNC is where I went to undergrad, so any chance I have to stay overnight I happily take). Y’all – these two. There are no words for how much they have blessed my life with their friendship. Through all the good, bad, and beyond ugly, they’ve both been such great sources of steady support, encouragement, and motivation to do better // be better. I am so grateful to even just know them – and 100% of the time am truly intimidated by how crazy smart they are – it’s scary (in a good way).

As it always does, the time with them flew, and now I find myself already back at home with at least five weeks to kill before results come back. It’s a little surreal to say the least. Ideally, I am praying to be done with this part of the “become a state-approved lawyer” process, but it really just depends on some many different elements that are totally out of my hands. Although the statement can sometimes be seen as a cliche, I truly believe that God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11 !) so, whatever the outcome, His plan is still good. Now, that doesn’t make the possibility of having to retake this exam any less depressing or disappointing, but it does allow me to have peace in knowing that if for some reason I do need to retake it, it’s for a purpose that I know is good and will choose to trust.

ANYWAY, transitioning topics – there’s a TON of new content // changes I’ve been dying to complete, launch, & share with y’all. Not the least of which includes a potential branding overhaul for BBB —> Sharing more on that in the coming weeks (I want y’all to vote on this!). First up though, is (of course) a new DIY project!! Later this week I’ll be sharing an easy TV tray overhaul tutorial <3 Oh – and for those of you who have asked//are interested – I will be sharing a “What/How I Packed for the Bar” post soon as well! If you want tips on staying motivated – check out this post here!

Shop the Post

xoxo, M

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Post, Pin, Share: